I had always stuck strictly to Lille city centre on previous visits, but this time was determined to strike out to discover and see something new. I'd read about a gallery of modern and contemporary art less than half an hour away in one of Lille's suburbs, so I made this the first stop on my visit. The speedy, efficient metro, local bus, and the kindness of strangers ensured that I reached my destination - the new town suburb of Villeneuve d'Ascq - to visit the Lille Métropole Musée d'Art Moderne, d'Art Contemporain et d'Art Brut (LaM). The museum is an angular Brutalist structure which is softened by being situated in acres of green space, home to a variety of plant and insect species as well as an impressive sculpture garden.
Alexander Calder - Guillotine pour huit (1962)
With so much space available LaM are able to show sculpture on a huge scale.
Pablo Picasso - Femme aux bras écartés (1962)
Richard Deacon - Between Fiction and Fact (1992)
Eugène Dodeigne - Figure debout
Eugène Dodeigne - Groupe de 3 personnages
Jean Roulland - Maternité
Eugène Dodeigne - Groupe de trois
Alexander Calder - Reims, Croix du Sud (1970)
Jacques Lipchitz, Le Chant des Voyelles (1931–32)
Architect Manuelle Gautrand's 2010 cancellous bone tissue-like extension to the museum.
Having savoured the calming grounds and sculpture outside, it was time to head inside for the art, and some much needed shade from the heat of the sun.
The collection of modern art is very impressive and contains masterpieces by the big hitters of the 20th C. like Picasso, Braque, Léger, Modigliani et al. The museum's art collection is based around that of collector Roger Dutilleul, who had personal links to the artists mentioned above. His nephew Jean Masurel added to the collection by supporting artists based around the Lille area. LaM has nearly 7000 works of art in its vast collection, and below are a section of the jewels which were on display on the day of my visit. The Picasso's, Léger's and Modigliani's were particularly strong.
Pablo Picasso - Homme nu assis, 1908–09
Henri Laurens - L'Adieu, 1941
Pablo Picasso - Poissons et bouteilles, 1909
Pablo Picasso - Le Bock, 1909
Anonymous - Mask Nimba, Guinea
Pablo Picasso - Nature morte, (coffret, tasse et pommes), 1909
Pablo Picasso - Nature morte espagnol (Sol y Sombra), 1912
Georges Braque - Le Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, 1910
Fernand Léger - Nature morte au compotier, 1923
Fernand Léger - Le Mécanicien, 1918
Henri Laurens - Verre et bouteille, 1919
Serge Charchuone - Nature morte, 1943
Serge Charchuone - Nature morte, 1942
Pablo Picasso - Femme au chapeau, 1942
Georges Braque - La Joueuse de mandoline, 1917
Joaquin Torres-Garcia - Composition universelle, 1937
Joaquin Torres-Garcia - Composition, 1931
Fernand Léger - Maquette pour une peinture murale, 1938
Jacques Lipchitz - Le Chant des Voyelles, 1931–32
Amedeo Modigliani - Maternité, 1919
Amedeo Modigliani - Nu assis à la chemise, 1917
Amedeo Modigliani - Petit garçon roux, 1919
Amedeo Modigliani - Moïse Kisling, 1916
André Derain, La danse II ~ 1906
Kees van Dongen, Femme lippue, 1909
Van Dongen's portrait was a smouldering, sensuous beauty. It was a pleasure to engage her in the flesh rather than in print.
Pierre Mercier - D'ici là, 19995
Zarina - The Ten Thousand Things, 2009-2010
Barry Flanagan, The Boxing Ones, 1985
Jacques Villeglé - 122 rue de Temple, les présidentielles, 1981
Francois Dufrêne - L'Opéra d'Aran, 1965
Raymond Hains - La Palissade Porte D'Italie, 1974
Mimmo Rotella - Colossale, 1962
Joan Miró - Trois personnages sur fond noir, 1934
Joan Miró - Peinture, 1933
Pablo Picasso - Tête d'homme, 1912
Mohamed El baz - Hard Day's Night, 1994
LaM really is a great collection of art, and as amazing as some of the pieces featured here by bona fide greats of the 20th C. art world are, I was just as blown away by the work of the outsider artists in LaM's Art Brut collection, which will be featured in my next post. If you ever find yourself in Lille and like art, do make the time to give LaM a visit. You won't be disappointed.
Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art
1 Allé de Musée
59650
Villeneuve-d'Ascq,
France
